Saitama (Japan) (AFP)
Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome was back on Sunday in a team time trial as part of the Saitama Criterium, four months after his serious injury in France.
Egan Bernal, winner of the Tour de France 2019, and Jonathan Castroviejo surrounded their team-mate at Ineos in a unique team time-trial lap, signing the return to the British competition since his multiple fractures, including the femur, after a fall in June during the recognition of the time trial of Dauphine.
The Ineos team finished penultimate, Froome being still far from its usual state of form. An operation to remove a plate from his hip is also planned for December.
Japan's Yukiya Arashiro won the Criterium in front of a pack of world cycling stars. Reigning Tour de France winner Egan Bernal and World No.1 Primoz Roglic came in second and third, respectively, after 17 laps of 3.5 km in the streets of Saitama, a city near Tokyo.
"I'm the first Japanese rider to win so maybe they'll talk about me in 20 years," joked Arashiro, cheered by Japanese fans all along the race.
The Frenchman Romain Bardet also took part in the festivities and the last winner of the polka dot jersey on the Tour de France made a point of honor to attack on the only considerable coast.
"We had fun, we're going back tonight but I hope to be back for the Olympics in July," said Auvergnat who finished 7th.
"I ran the final part of the Olympic route, it's a good technical run, and we can not wait to be there, we'll be five in the French team," he added.
Final ranking of the Critérium de Saitama (Japan)
1. Yukiya Arashiro (JPN)
2. Egan Bernal (COL)
3. Primoz Roglic (SLO)
4. Luka Mezgec (SLO)
5. Kohei Uchima (JPN)
© 2019 AFP